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Walmart makes good on a 3 year old battery.. Free Replacement

I had a walmart everstart maxx-34n battery that had a manufacture date of 7/07. Yesterday I get home from work and the van was fine. I go to run to the store and the van just clicked. I popped the hood and looked at the battery and it says "3 year free replacement" and the tag said manufactured 7/10. I figured here goes nothing, pulled the battery and went to the local walmart with the battery and no receipt. The girl scanned the barcode asked me what was wrong and I said it won't take a charge anymore.

Then she hands me a giftcard for $92.00 to get a new battery. The new battery was $77.00 + $8.00 core. What a deal, I just shook my head all the way home.

Moral of the story is if you have one that says "3 year free replacement" you best be getting it back to walmart by 35 months from the date on the battery for a new one......

I picked up one this past November, this January it wouldn't start the van. I took it back to Walmart and they replaced it, no questions asked. What you want to make sure you're doing is getting a battery with at least 650CCA (cold cranking amps), If you can find 850CCA or higher, the better. One Forum member mentioned he found a 1000CCA that just fit into his battery holder. With all these gadgets and power accessories on the vans, today, you definitely need a higher CCA, and if you can find a higher one to fit, then even better.

Walmart near me doesn't have a battery tester. Maybe the ones with the oil change/ tire sales do. But, in my case, all I had to do was walk in and say "my battery's dead" and they give you a new one no questions asked. I did this once when I left my lights on and the battery went dead. I probably could have charged it and it would have been fine. I wonder if you couldn't walk in every 35 months without a receipt and just "renew" your battery, based on the date on the side.

The sears by me does the same thing with their DieEasy batteries I put in my GTO, mistakenly of course. They replaced it free about once a year for 3 years. The current one has at least been fine for a few years so far.

BTW, CCA is not all that important. Reserve capacity is what enables you to keep your radio and stuff on and still be able to start the vehicle later on.

Most of the replacement batteries aren't "maintenance free". That reminds me that I need to check the fluid level in mine (Eveready Premium in the Jeep and Eveready Max in the Van, both from Wal-Mart). I do a check about twice a year. Is that too much or not enough? My guess would be that some never get checked.

CAA and RC Ratings:

Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) is the industry recognized standard for defining starter power. The battery's ability to perform is measured by the amount of current the battery can deliver at 0°Fahrenheit (-18°Celsius) over 30 seconds, while maintaining a voltage equivalent of 1.2 volts per cell or higher. A 12-volt battery must maintain a voltage equivalent of 7.2 volts.The Reserve Capacity (RC) rating represents the number of minutes at 80° Fahrenheit (26.7°Celsius) that a battery can supply a load of 25 amps and maintain a voltage pf 1.75 volts or higher per cell (10.5 volts for a 12-volt battery.)

I have been battling a dead battery on this van since owning it. First one due to age, second one was my fault. I melted the top with a worklight. The third from walmart has consistently gone dead at random times. Usually with no warning. Van will start fine drive someplace and then nothing just clicks. Jump it and its fine will restart after being driven. Been to back to walmart twice and the recharge it and say its fine. Yesterday it died at daughters school in the pickup line. Not even enough power to unlock the back door. (I keep a jumpbox in the back.) She got it jumped and went to pick up the second daughter and then on to walmart to have them check the battery again. Tested fine they said the charging system is not working.

Took it to dealer since we still have some extended warranty left. They tested out the alternator etc and said battery failed. This cost my $100. So I spent much needed family money to find out what I knew in the first place. I trust the dealer alittle more than a walmart nontech.

We charge the battery up and its fine for a few weeks it seems. I do agree with the comment about all the electrical items on these vans being hard on batteries. Still this battery was failing within a year of purchase.

I have been battling a dead battery on this van since owning it. First one due to age, second one was my fault. I melted the top with a worklight. The third from walmart has consistently gone dead at random times. Usually with no warning. Van will start fine drive someplace and then nothing just clicks. Jump it and its fine will restart after being driven. Been to back to walmart twice and the recharge it and say its fine. Yesterday it died at daughters school in the pickup line. Not even enough power to unlock the back door. (I keep a jumpbox in the back.) She got it jumped and went to pick up the second daughter and then on to walmart to have them check the battery again. Tested fine they said the charging system is not working.

Took it to dealer since we still have some extended warranty left. They tested out the alternator etc and said battery failed. This cost my $100. So I spent much needed family money to find out what I knew in the first place. I trust the dealer alittle more than a walmart nontech.

We charge the battery up and its fine for a few weeks it seems. I do agree with the comment about all the electrical items on these vans being hard on batteries. Still this battery was failing within a year of purchase.

Dealer tested it and said bad battery. I too have thought current draw, but it will happen 10 minutes after driving the van someplace and then try to start it again and its dead. Unless the battery is weak I don't think anything on the van should kill the battery in 10 minutes. We try to keep the power accessories to a minimum usage when travelling short distances.

Walmart slip shows 610 out of 650cca. This is right after charging the battery. Dealer shows 375cca. The van was driven home from walmart 10 miles. Then parked over night. Started and driven to dealer 6 miles and they tested it. I have a bit more faith in the dealer and there test than walmart.

I didn't have any problems with battery number two. It was in there for a year. It was only replace due to the melted top and the dealer would not work on the van for safety reasons. I put that battery in another car and it is going just fine after sitting for nearly two years. I even deep cycled it using it as a jumpbox.

Really I am just venting. Been a frustating 2 years with this problem.